410 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
products of New England shall be shut off from shipment 
into other states on account of the possibility of carrying the 
gypsy and browntail moths to new localities. Admitted the 
necessity of protecting crops from the depredations of insect 
and fungous pests and agreeing that all practicable means 
must be taken to prevent the spread of these scourges to other 
sections, the question arises as to whether a quarantine such 
as is now proposed would have any effect of sufficient weight 
to justify the deliberate crippling of a long established, 
reputable and useful industry such as the nursery trade of the 
New England States. As to the brown-tail moth, a watch 
for their web-nests on tree shipments would accomplish all 
that it is possible to accomplish by inspection. The prohibi¬ 
tion of shipments from infested territory would bear hard on 
the nursery trade but would not exclude the brown-tail, for 
the method of distribution of this moth is by flight in mid¬ 
summer and thus a law against wind and water would be just 
as sensible and just as effectual as a quarantine against the 
brown-tail, as everyone familiar with the life history and 
habits of the insect well understands. So far as the gypsy 
moth is concerned inspection of nursery stock shipments will 
accomplish practically nothing, but a permit based upon an 
intelligent summer inspection of the nurseries would mean 
something and should be insisted upon without qualification. 
Unlike the brown-tail, the female gypsy moth cannot fly, and 
consequently is itself incapable of extending its field of 
depredation except by very slow and very evident stages. 
The mediums by which the gypsy is carried from one place to 
another are, in the caterpillar stage, largely carriages, autos 
and railroad cars; also in the egg period, by railroad ties or 
other timber, rails, granite or similarly exposed material. A 
freight car left on a siding in an infested region for a few days 
in the egg-laying season in July can transport the pest across 
the continent, with detection practically impossible. Nur¬ 
sery-grown products are, indeed, infinitesimal in their 
liability to disseminate the pests for, in self-protection, nur¬ 
sery stock is necessarily kept clean, and it is as wasteful and 
ill-advised as it is fruitless, wrong in principle and ethics as it 
appears to be in motive, to oppress, as is contemplated, an 
industry and a section already hard pressed and overburdened 
with the expenditure of many millions of dollars in the cause, 
because of ignorance of the situation or to gratify the rapacity 
of interests that might, through this proposed restriction, reap 
a selfish commercial advantage. 
MATURED SPECIMEN PLANTS 
When the nurseryman is writing a catalogue or perhaps 
trying to tell a customer what a tree or shrub is like at 
maturity, he will often realize that he does not really know or 
perhaps has never seeen one. He may be able to recognize 
the plant from a twig or even a piece of the root from a small 
nursery grown plant but not really recognize a well grown 
matured specimen 
Many of the older nurseries have fine specimens growing 
on their grounds to which they point with pride. Planted 
by the founders who loved their plants, as well as grew them 
for a livelihood. It is a good practice to plant a good thing 
on the nursery and let it remain wherever and whenever an 
opportunity occurs. They will earn their keep through their 
seed, scions, photographs or advertising to visitors. It is, 
however, impossible for a nursery to have a matured specimen 
of all the plants they grow, but the nurseryman should never 
lose opportunity to visit and make the acquaintance of 
matured specimens. What nurseryman does not get inspira¬ 
tion from a visit to a good private place or a public park like 
the Arnold Aboretum or the Shaw Gardens. He comes away 
acknowledging to himself that such and such a plant is really 
a good thing and ought to be grown more and pushed, and 
then again he sees plants as they are in full developed beauty 
and mentally decides that all the shearing and pruning certain 
plants need is just enough to get them started right in the 
way they should grow. 
When it comes to describing the possibilities of that 
particular plant to his next customer, there is more truth and 
enthusiasm in his statements and sales are more likely. 
The country needs more such objective schools, our parks 
and gardens are good, but will not reach their maximum until 
the tree or plant is king and all other affairs of the park or 
garden, whether they be political, design of the landscape 
gardener, or miss-use of plants by the management are 
subordinate to them. 
In such institutions as Kew Gardens, London, and the 
Arnold Arboretum, Boston, one may see the plants reigning 
supreme and the entire management studying their wants 
and these gardens are famous. 
THE NURSERYMAN’S WIFE HEARD FROM 
Who is it in the gladsome Spring 
When all the birds are gay 
Is hard at work at 5:00 a. m. 
And all the live long day 
The nurseryman. 
Who is it in the summer-time 
When wife suggests “vacation” 
Says “No, dear, I must be taking stock” 
And fills her with vexation. 
The nurseryman. 
Who is it in the Autumn time 
When leaves are turning brown 
Is still at work on catalogue 
And cannot leave the town. 
The nurseryman. 
Who is it in the winter-time 
When wifie’s all tired out 
Says “Think I’ll take a business trip 
Hunt trade up in the South.” 
The nurseryman. 
Then comes a wifie’s chance. Did you ever take a business trip 
with Hubby? If not try it, but in this wise. First assure him that it 
doesn’t mean .several Saratoga trunks to look after besides hand luggage. 
A suit case will be plenty, you are not in the same place long, so one light 
dress will do for any special occasion. A coat suit and shirt waist with 
a couple of fancy waists with the necessary comb, brush, etc., a couple of 
good books or a bag of embroidery. If you like, in case you get tired as 
hubby tramps over a nursery or estate, you can find one of the many 
beautiful spots which always abounds in places where the nurseryman 
goes and rest till he is through. 
All work is not good for him on such trips and he will I am sure act 
upon and appreciate a suggestion of a trip to the theatre, or some such 
diversion and you will soon find the “business trip” may combine 
business and pleasure and so be a vacation too. e. r. m. 
